Today’s residences are more energy efficient than ever. While this is fantastic for keeping your heating and cooling costs down, it’s bad for bringing enough fresh air inside.
Newer residences are tightly sealed, which shows they don’t “breathe” like older homes can. Because of this, your home could appear to smell stale, feel too humid or run into problems with condensation. If you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your family, they might experience worsening issues.
Fortunately, it’s not complicated to increase the ventilation in your home in Newark. Most of the solutions that we’ll review soon are easy and inexpensive.
1. Open Windows and Screened Doors
This is the simplest approach to get fresh air into your residence during moderate weather. But it’s crucial to be aware this typically isn’t a year-round option and can cause problems if someone in your household has seasonal allergies. If this is the case, you don’t want to open windows during the early morning. That’s when the pollen counts are the greatest, according to Mayo Clinic. You’ll also want to avoid opening them during dry, windy weather, since the weather can aggravate allergies.
2. Use Exhaust Fans in Your Kitchen and Bathrooms
Operating these fans eliminates stale air, extra moisture, odors and other things you don’t want in your house. They’re also economical to run. An exhaust fan costs about $7-$15 each year in electricity if you were to operate it 24/7, according to the Center for Energy and the Environment (CEE).
If you’re interested in doing this, the CEE suggests looking for an ENERGY STAR® ventilation fan that delivers nearly noiseless, continuous operation. These fans often include a sensor that will trigger then to run automatically when humidity is too elevated, so you won’t have to think about turning it on or off.
However, it’s important to know that an exhaust fan can negatively impact your house’s temperature, since it’s removing air that you’ve already heated or cooled.
3. Keep Your Residence’s Humidity Regulated
The right humidity level for your home is between 30–50%, according to Mayo Clinic. While the ideal amount of humidity won’t increase ventilation, it can improve your house’s indoor air quality and keep your residence comfy at a more energy-efficient temp.
If humidity isn’t high enough, you may experience dry skin, a scratchy throat or itchy eyes. Dry air can also impact wood flooring and furnishings in your house, causing them to split. On the other hand, humidity that’s too great can make air appear stale or stuffy. It can also lead to mold and mildew growth and worsen allergies or asthma.
The wisest approach to keep humidity regulated is with a whole-home solution. We have humidifiers and dehumidifiers that work with your HVAC system. There’s no need to lug an inefficient portable system around your home, spilling water as you move.
It’s also essential to know the right humidity level can also make air more pleasant at an energy-efficient setting, helping you save more on utility expenses.
4. Install a Ventilation System
Getting a mechanical ventilation system is one of the best methods to bring in more fresh air into your house all year. There are two different types—heat recovery ventilation (HRV) and energy recovery ventilation (ERV). These systems constantly get rid of musty indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air.
HRV is ideal for chilly climates, since it retains the heat from the indoor air it exhausts. ERV is excellent for humid climates, as it pulls out warmth and moisture from your air. Some areas can benefit from both pieces of equipment, so talk with our Luikart Heating & Cooling ventilation experts about what’s a good match for your Newark house.
If stale or lingering odors are an issue in your home, you can also install a whole-house air purification system. These systems offer an additional level of filtration, which can also provide support with lowering pet dander, allergens and bacteria in your house.
Our ventilation professionals are here to help you select the ideal product for your residence. Contact us at 740-200-5591 now for a free, no-obligation home comfort assessment. We’ll look at your existing equipment and listen to your needs in advance of providing our recommendations on the best possibilities to increase ventilation in your house.